Sunday Devotional: Matthew 5:10

Blessed are those who have been persecuted on account of righteousness, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

In verse 6, Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst righteousness will be satisfied. While it is a blessing to eagerly desire righteousness, there is also a cost: persecution. Clearly, when Jesus speaks of “righteousness,” he doesn’t have in mind some vague idea of “doing the right thing,” or “being a good person.” Rather, it has to do with being godly–honoring God with our thoughts, desires, actions, and words. If you recall when we looked at Matthew 5:6, we referenced Psalm 42 with regard to “hungering and thirsting.” There the psalmist likened the thirsting of a deer for water to his desire for God. This is the righteousness we should be pursuing with all our heart. Our greatest desire should be for God.

This doesn’t mean “righteousness” has nothing to do with the way we act. Indeed, if we are hungering and thirsting after God, then our thoughts, words, and deeds will reflect that. We will seek to honor and please Him with everything we think, say, and do. However, in a fallen world where God’s name and standards are not respected, and where the name of Jesus is often ridiculed, pursuing such righteousness is not popular. As many in our culture have experienced, thinking, speaking, and living a life that is God-centered and God-honoring will bring you into opposition with the world. This was certainly the experience of the first century church, and has continued to be the Christian experience for the last two thousand years.

Just because we don’t (yet) have the state persecuting the church, don’t think Christians aren’t persecuted–even if it’s not to the same degree as our first century brethren. Whenever we are mocked, ridiculed, chastised, or maltreated because of our faith, we are enduring persecution for righteousness’s sake. And Jesus, here, wants us to know that when that happens, we are blessed. We should not pity ourselves, or think ourselves cursed by God. Rather, it is an honor and privilege to suffer dishonor for Christ’s sake.

And there is a reward: those persecuted for righteousness’s sake receive the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said the poor in spirit also receive the Kingdom of Heaven–and I think there is a connection. As we discussed, the poor in spirit are those who recognize their own spiritually bankrupt position, and rely totally on the Lord to supply their spiritual needs. They go to God with empty hands, and hearts that look to Him to be their sole sufficient provider of everything they need. Is this not also the disposition of the one pursuing righteousness? You can’t please God with a prideful heart, thinking you can do it on your own–that your own natural resources are sufficient to live the Christian life and honor the Lord. The believer must come to the Lord with a humble heart, recognizing his own deficiency, and the Lord’s complete sufficiency. Only then can he pursue his goal of pleasing God, pursuing righteousness. Which in turn will, to some extent, lead to persecution–a persecution the God-lover is happy to endure for His sake.

No doubt Jesus intended his followers to be encouraged by this beatitude because he knew what was coming. Matthew probably wanted to include this saying of Jesus in his Gospel because he, and many people he knew, were experiencing persecution, just as Jesus said. And today, this verse should still encourage us. Whenever we are reviled, hated, looked down on, or mocked for our faith, we are blessed. And furthermore, we are among those who already (the Greek verb is present tense) have a part in God’s eternal Kingdom.

Have a great week!